Lawyers leap into action to secure MP Faris’ release

Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon is led away after his arrest on January 27, 2018. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/MIHAARU

The lawyers of Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon on Sunday filed a habeas corpus petition at the Criminal Court claiming that the opposition lawmaker was arrested unlawfully, and seeking his release.

The son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Faris had spent six months in jail after he was first arrested over allegedly offering bribes to a parliamentarian, to garner support for a censure motion against the parliament speaker. Soon after the Criminal Court had released him from prison last Thursday, he was arrested again on Saturday, now accused of bribing lawmakers with money last May and conspiring to topple the current government.

The court had extended his remand by 15 days on Saturday night.

His legal team filed the habeas corpus petition Sunday, detailing seven reasons as to why their client’s second arrest was unlawful. His lawyers had cited the Constitution and 27 clauses of various legislatures in the case, including the Criminal Procedure Code, Judicature Act, Police Act and parliamentary regulations.

Habeus Corpus is a writ calling to bring a detained individual before a court to secure their release unless lawful grounds are presented for their arrest.

Prior to his second arrest, Police had raided the residences of Faris and his father, former President Maumoon, in capital Male with a court order claiming to search for proof pertaining to the accusations against him. However, the police have since admitted that they did not find any evidence in either of the homes.